iOS 7 is running behind schedule, but will receive a significant visual makeover from Jony Ive, according to Daring Fireball’s John Gruber.

In a Branch chat with MG Siegler, Rene Ritchie and others, Gruber stated that he’d heard rumours of delays with the next version of Apple’s mobile operating system. He noted that engineers were reportedly being pulled from other projects, including OS X 10.9, in order to get things done:

What I’ve heard: iOS 7 is running behind, and engineers have been pulled from OS X 10.9 to work on it.

Gruber’s claim was backed up by FOX News’ Clayton Morris who said:

Yes I second that. To John’s point I’ve heard from engineers who’ve been moved off of their current ‘non-profit generating projects’ in order to work on the high priority software projects.

iMore’s Rene Ritchie had extra information on the look and feel of iOS 7, stating:

Ive’s work is apparently making many people really happy, but will also apparently make rich-texture-loving designers sad.

This final comment seems to go hand–in–hand with Gruber’s earlier claim that iOS engineers who’ve been given carry privileges (allowing them to take devices with software in development outside of their offices) have polarising filters on their iPhones to restrict viewing angles and stop observers from seeing the new UI.